Roy Parker, Head of SchoolColumbia University, BAUniversity of Colorado, JD

Roy Parker has spent close to three decades teaching in and leading independent schools. He has taught Kindergarten through 12th grade, inclusive; designed three middle school buildings and programs; and, has led both boys and girls high school basketball teams to state tournaments (while honored as coach of the year).

Roy was appointed Commissioner to the Nevada Commission for Educational Excellence (2007). As elementary, middle and high principal of a charter school for at-risk students, Parker’s students and teachers received Exemplary and High Achieving acclaim for their academic accomplishments

When Roy is not with his family or at school, he runs (many marathons), bikes or herds cats (four in the family currently). email >

Tess Miner-Farra, Associate Head of School

Wells College, BAUniversity of Utah, MA

Quote: "It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers." - James Thurber

Raised in Manhattan and then upstate New York in a family of writers,teachers and avid readers, Tess studied English and Philosophy at Wells College, then started her teaching career in the English department at Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts, where she coached soccer,xc-skiing and directed a freshman girls' dormitory.

In 1996 at the University of Utah, Tess completed a Masters degree that she started at Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, married husband John and moved back to NY to teach English and History at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid. During the next six years, Tess taught every level of secondary English, SAT Prep, served as the Director of College Counseling, Faculty liaison to the Board, and Academic Dean.

After the birth of their first daughter, the family moved to Maine in support of John's work and Tess spent the next six years at home with Lina and Hanna, teaching College Composition and coordinating a college-readiness program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The Farras returned to Utah in 2008 and in 2009, Tess brought her independent school experience to Park City Day School, along with her two daughters,who now enjoy the extraordinary benefits of a PCDS education.

Tess, John, Lina and Hanna take full advantage of the spectacular Utah weather, hiking, trail running, camping and otherwise "keeping up" with the newest member of the family, a border collie mix named "Roxy." email >

Quote: ”When life hands you lemons, make orange juice and leave them wondering how you did it." --Anonymous

Melanie Pickens began teaching as a middle school history teacher in Texas. During her eleven years in the classroom, Melanie has taught in five states, in both public and private settings, to a wide range of students, including gifted and special needs students.

After completing her Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision, Melanie served as the Middle School Dean of Students at an independent school in Memphis and as the Director of Educational Technology, Summer Programs and After School Programs at Park City Academy.

Melanie enjoys spending time with her daughters.Whenever possible they love to take advantage of the recreational opportunities in the Park City area. email >

Lauri Linton, Early Childhood Director

Columbia University, BA Bank Street College ofEducation, MS

Quote: "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." — Benjamin Franklin

Lauri Pendray Linton has been a classroom teacher for preschool-aged children for more than 10 years in both regular and special educational settings. In addition, she has developed parenting programs, staff development workshops, and curriculum models.

Lauri also works as an educational consultant for Learning Pathways, a children’s media company in New York City. In this role, she teams with designers to develop concept ideas for toys and games, and conducts observational research of young children at play with the designed materials. This research has contributed to subsequent concept ideas and further developed the overall child development databases for Learning Pathways.

In addition to her academic education, Lauri has pursued certification in massage therapy. In her spare time, she enjoys running,skiing, hiking, and a good book. email >

Lindsay Wellman, Middle School Director

Hamilton College, BA

Quote: “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” — Henry David Thoreau

During her time at Hamilton College, Lindsay Wellman studied ceramics and glass under the guidance of internationally recognized glass artist Robert Palusky.

Inspired by his dedication and passion, Lindsay decided to focus her studio art degree in pottery, and stayed on after graduation to work in the ceramics studio as an artist-in-residence. For two years she was responsible for all studio materials and equipment, and assisted with undergrad instruction in sculpting, pottery, and glass. During this time Lindsay worked on developing her portfolio, participated in various art shows, and was featured in several local galleries.

After moving to UT, Lindsay taught Art and helped lead Outdoor Education programs at The Colby school for four years before becoming the heart and soul of Park City Day School's Visual Art program in 2010. In the spring of 2013, Ms. Wellman was promoted to lead the growing Middle School at Park City Day school, bringing impressive breadth and depth of relevant experience in education and leadership. Already actively engaged with the school's Outdoor Education program, Lindsay’s extensive background in outdoor leadership, team building, experiential education, leadership and customer service make her a gifted and effective leader for the Middle School team. In addition, her evident success at integrating creativity, collaboration, character development and interdisciplinary content into her classroom and her mentoring of new teachers demonstrates a fluency with those 21st century skills that we aim to develop in our students - including collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication. email >

Margie Sherer, Office Manager

University of Utah, BS

Quote: “I'velearned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

Raised in upstate NewYork, Margie was inundated with education, her father was a Superintendent of numerousschool districts; her now retired sister was a School Psychologist and anothersister a Kindergarten Teacher. Her family life was spent enjoying the greateroutdoors camping, hiking, skiing and later snowboarding. Her strong snowboardracing skills brought her out west where she discovered the most amazingoutdoor lifestyle, one she vowed to never leave.

After graduating from theUniversity of Utah, she accepted a position with the U.S. Ski and SnowboardAssociation as their Snowboard Program Manager. She subsequently served as theTeam Leader for the 2002 Olympic Snowboard Team, as the Director of FigureSkating for the N.Y. Olympic Authority, and also as a Development Officer forthe University of Utah. Soon finding a career that complimented her lifestylewith two young children, she spent eight years as a highly motivated Real EstateAgent.

As her children became ofschool age Margie decided to make a career change and became a 2ndGrade Teacher working on her alternate route to licensure. With this change Margiefound the interaction with both students and parents to be extremely rewarding.With a welcoming and very much unexpected turn, in August of 2013 she wasoffered a position with the PCDS. This was an exciting opportunity for not onlyMargie, but also for her husband Cris and their two children, whom are nowattending PCDS, Emmitt and Malia.

Margie isoverjoyed that she has found a community of like-minded professionals who allwork in the best interest of the children. She finds that her colleagues, allhaving rich, diverse backgrounds, offer a unique perspective to education. Margie is impressed by everyone’s work at PCDSwhich is inspired by a shared vision and supported by a strong commitment. She is excited to be part of such an amazingplace! email >

Quote: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”—Mahatma Gandhi

Encouraged to enter the world of education by an inspirational high school instructor, Joanne Staral began her teaching career at the middle school level in Madison, Wisconsin. She came to Park City with a strong background in child development and reading, and had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of students at the middle and elementary school level. Nearly three decades later, she now puts her teaching expertise to work for first graders at the Park City Day School, where she enjoys the challenge and creative freedom of the independent school setting.

Joanne’s teaching approach emphasizes engaging activities that bring learning to life and collaborative projects that teach children to work cooperatively in the classroom. She has a passion for educating her students about the earth and the significance of “treading lightly as we go about our daily lives. Joanne co-founded the greenhouse program at the Colby campus and looks forward to expanding the instructional reach of the gardening program in the future.